Improvement in corn-harvesters



No. 104,846. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1870.

I B. HA IN. i

N HARV ER.

Uma., wnsumomn o c i wind' 'l/fatet.,

GEORGE Bl. HAMLIN,-0F WILLn'tANTIc, coNNEeTIcUT.

.Lettere Patent No. 104,846, (Iatod June 28, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CJORN-HARVIEISTERS.

The schedulelreferred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same,

To all whomfit may concern Be it known 4that I, GEORGE B. HAMLIN, of the town of Willimantic, county of Windham, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Picker for Corn-Harvesters My invention consists in combining with the fingers of a picker, a eutting-bladeprovided with a sheld, so'

ai'ranged that the cutting-edge will only be permitted to operate at the base of 'each ear of corn and I do hereby declare that the following -specification, taken in connection with the drawing, furnished and forming a part of the same, is a true, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the drawing.

Figure 1 nepresents, in perspective, a sufiicient number of finger's to illnst'rate my inventiou. They are attached to au arm7 which, in turn, may be attached in an obviousmanner to anycorn-harvester.

A, in each case, represents the finger.

B represents the holding-spaces between the fingers, of a width eqnal to the general diameter of a comstalk.

C represents the cutting-hlzules, set across the spaces near the butts of the fingers.

D represents recessed guards, which are mounted vupon'sp'ring spiudles, so set as to constantly press the guard forward over the cutting-blade.

E represents a spring latch. It is set upon and pivoted to one, or, it may be, on both sides of the inside upper edge of the spaces B, upon the iingers A, near the cutting-hlades.

The swinging end of the latch enters a reccss in the interior of the guard D, and engages with a shoulder therein.

VVhen the latch is` free from pressure its spring causes its latch end to engagc with the shoulder in such a manner asiwill cause the guard to ho rigidly fixed in its position, seenrely covering the edge of the cutting-blades.

Upon receiving Vertical pressure, the latch disengages from the guard shonlder, andv permits it to readp ily slide back and expose the cutting-edge.

Figure 2 represents the same. in 'longitndnal vertieal section. Parts are marked with same letters of reference.`

The Operation of uly picker is asibllows':

VThe fingers A are made to embrace the stalks at or -near the ground. As they are raised .the outer ends of the fingers are elevated slightly. While being so raisedthe .stalk presents but little if any resistance to the upper edge of the fingers, and the gua-rds prevent contact between the'stalks and the cutting-blades. The ears of corn, however, being of a greater diameter than the stalks, do not pass through the spaces, and, consequently, upon their contact with the spring-latch E, the guard D is released, and the bearing of the ear upon the inclined upper snrfaces of the fingers carries it against the cutting-blmle, which severs it from the stalk. I

My picker may also be attached to the, front end of a platform on wheels, and arranged to engagfivith the standing stalks below the ears, ar/rd thus:` effect the picking Operation by a forward inoalement only.`

Having thus descrihed my in't'ention,

I claim as newand desire to seeurc by Letter-s Patent- /5 1-. The combination of the eutting-edge, sliding.

guard, and spring latch, with the fingers of a cornharvester, substantially as shown and descrihed for the purposes specified.

- 2. The combination of the' latch E, `gfuard D, and

cutting-hlade (l, substantially as shown and descrihed.

GnoRGE B; HAMLIN/ Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. PATTEN, PHIL. F. Lat/mn. 

